Page 81 of Deeper Than the Dead

Eve shrugged. “Maybe. She was always very private about her thoughts, so if she did, I didn’t know anything about it.”

“I’m posting a security detail,” Bent said. “I should have already.”

That was his guilt talking. Besides, Vera didn’t want an extra pair of ears around listening unless there was no other choice. She suggested, “I really don’t want to be diverting resources. Maybe we should just get a security system.”

Eve nodded. “That would probably be better.”

“As long as you get it today—tomorrow at the latest,” Bent said, “I’m good with that.”

“I’ll call someone,” Eve said. She stared at the floor a moment, then reluctantly met Bent’s gaze. “I’m sorry about what I did.” She glanced at Vera before turning back to him. “I was afraid y’all were just going to try and blame this on Daddy and wouldn’t look for anyone else.”

“You should know me better than that, Eve,” Bent said. “I’ve known your family for a very long time. I would never take the easy way out or try and blame your father for something he didn’t do.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I’ll pay for the damages, and I’ll even apologize to Mr. Carmichael.” Eve shrugged. “I was going to ask if I could do it anonymously, but I should just bite the bullet and make it right.”

Bent smiled. “I’m glad to hear it.” To Vera, he said, “When we’re finished up here, we’ll go to the cave. You’ve been asking for access. I can give you that now. Conover and his guys are done. The Feds will be on site later today or early tomorrow. It’s now or ... way later.”

“Great.” Vera needed to see the scene firsthand. Pictures were better than nothing but never as good as the real thing. No matter that she’d been in that cave as a kid, memories sometimes took on a life of their own. Changed, expanded. She wasn’t sure what she hoped to learn, but she had to try.

The front door opened, and Vera jumped.

Luna stood in the doorway, looking from one to the next. “What’s going on?”

Vera ushered her inside and explained about the intruder.

“Do you know if he took anything?”

“We can’t be sure.”

“Oh my God. I need to check everything.” Luna rushed up the stairs.

Eve sighed. “I’ll see if she needs any help.”

When the two had disappeared down the upstairs hall, Bent turned to Vera. “So you’re good with Eve’s explanation?”

“I can see her trying to protect Daddy. She was so young when Mama died. She wouldn’t have wanted to lose him under any circumstances.” She laughed, a dry, humorless attempt. “I, on the other hand, might have been more than happy to send him up the river.”

“We do that when we’re teenagers,” he reminded her. “Draw away. It’s part of the process of becoming independent.”

“Yeah, well anyway, I find it a reasonable—however not very well-thought-out—explanation.” Vera shook her head. “I really worry about her. Between all that happened when Mama died and later, the drugs and drinking, it’s possible she’s a little behind the curve with emotional development. It’s not unusual to find some level of immaturity in those circumstances.”

He glanced toward the stairs, and Vera had the sudden impression there was something more he wanted to say.

“Is there news from the scene or the lab?” she asked.

By now the remains were likely all at the crime lab in Nashville, though she felt confident there had not been enough time for autopsies.

“Nothing they’re sharing. You know the TBI, they’re like the Feds, they don’t like to share on anyone else’s timeline.”

Vera shook her head. “I’ve always found that so strange. After all, they are here to assist the local police, and somehow they always wind up taking over and setting the locals aside.”

“The intruder didn’t take anything from my room,” Luna announced as she and Eve descended the stairs. “He wouldn’t have figured out where I kept my journal in a million years.”

“That’s for sure,” Eve commented.

Vera didn’t ask. “I’m glad your things were secure.”

As Luna came down the final step, her jaw dropped. “Oh my gosh, I almost forgot to tell you.” She looked from Vera to Eve and then to Bent. “A woman who lives in Huntsville called me.”

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